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Breaking News

Gunmen Kill At Least Three in Israeli Settlement

Aired June 20, 2002 - 15:32   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: We are going to continue watching for you this breaking story of another bout of violence that has taken place in the Middle East, this time at an Israeli settlement near Nablus.

Israeli television is reporting that at least three Israelis have been killed in a shooting in the West Bank. Officials say at least one gunman entered a Jewish settlement and opened fire there. The Al- Aqsa Martyr Brigade is claiming responsibility for the attack in Jerusalem.

Our CNN correspondent Sheila MacVicar has the latest. Let's go to Sheila now -- Sheila, what do you have for us now?

SHEILA MACVICAR, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, as you said, it appears that there have been at least three people who have been killed in the Itamar settlement. It is an Israeli-Jewish settlement, very close to the West Bank city, the Palestinian city of Nablus.

Now, what we are told is that at least, it is believed, two gunmen entered into that community a little earlier this evening. They somehow got into a house in that settlement. It is described as a family home with a family with a large number of children.

Now, we have heard earlier from our own sources here that there were four people who have been taken from the house who were wounded. Israel television, as a matter of fact, is now reporting that there are four dead. Others say that there are three dead. Earlier this evening, IDF, the Israeli Defense Forces, which are responsible for the security of Jewish settlers and the settlements on the West Bank and in the Gaza Strip, were reporting that they believed that there may be something of a hostage situation going on inside that house.

Obviously, this is still a developing story and we are following it as best we can from Jerusalem -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, thank you very much, Sheila MacVicar, from Jerusalem now, giving us the latest information on what is believed to be at least three Israelis who were killed in an Israeli settlement near Nablus.

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